Raven Haired "Mama"
Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 11:18AM Jose here. By the time this weekend's over, Jessica Chastain will have finished taking over the world her latest movies in the first and second spots of the box office (help me out here, has this happened before?), which might not mean she's a money-making sensation (at least not yet) but will undoubtedly expose her brilliance to a broader audience. The Oscar nominated Zero Dark Thirty, whose commercial success is undoubtedly owed to the torture controversy, dropped to second place, while the horror movie Mama is set to open as number one with a figure in the mid-twenty millions
http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2013/1/20/raven-haired-mama.html
The Guillermo del Toro-produced movie seems to be a good 'ole "mediocre January horror flick" but it's actually not half bad. I saw it earlier today and was shocked upon realizing I hadn't rolled my eyes a single time. The Chastainite in me wants to say the movie owes itself to her, but in reality, the direction and cinematography seem like a breath of fresh air compared to what this genre has given us lately. [More Chastain after the jump...]
When I first heard the movie was coming out I feared Chastain might succumb to the accursed Oscar tradition of arguably frontrunning Oscar nominees releasing horrific movies weeks before the ceremony (remember Norbit, Bride Wars and No Strings Attached?) and I was pleased to see she had aced even this.
One of the things that makes Mama different is the fact that we're denied the pleasure of watching Chastain's fiery red mane. So let's get out of the way for now.
beautiful
That black bob isn't a look "anyone" can pull off. In context though the black wig makes sense and I curiously started imagining projects to keep the actress working continuously with the same wig!
In Mama, Jessica plays a rock musician who has to give up her band to help out raise her boyfriend's feral nieces. We see her playing an electric guitar on many occasions which led me to believe she would also be great in a live action version of Jem and the Holograms where she would obviously be in The Misfits.
We know Chastain can act, but can she sing? If so, she would be ace as a new Sally Bowles whenever someone decides to bring Cabaret back to the stage. A film version is obviously out of the question (nobody can top Liza's screen performance) but the musical is a stage favorite that has brought great notices to actresses like Judi Dench and Natasha Richardson.
If Jessica lacks musical talent - beyond the impromptu "Happy Birthday" on the red carpet - she can always play Sally Bowles in the play "I Am a Camera" instead while on her search for the triple crown (the Tony probably won't be happening for The Heiress - her reviews being too mixed.)
Last but not least, Chastain could play a great Lisbeth Salander. Bear with me...you know how much I loved Noomi and Rooney and how much I love the Stieg Larsson novels and all their movie adaptations, but the more I watched Jessica in her dark wig, the more I kept imagining the novels taking a Lars Von Trier turn and have a different actress play Lisbeth in each movie. This of course will never happen but I blame Jessica forlooking like Bryce and I blame Bryce for taking over Nicole in Dogville.
Stop me from rambling!
Did you see any of Chastain's movies this weekend?
What did you think of her black wig?
Should she cover that magnificent red mane for more movies?
Reader Comments (9)
I'm sure it's definitely happened before. Jessica Chastain actually wasn't *the* star, but she already had number one and number two at the BO with The Help and The Debt before.
The Debt made money?
Anyway, the raven hair was the most searing flaw of Zero Dark Thirty. Like if I was a terrorist I'd start telling her my secrets just so that she can stop wearing that wig.
Ryan,
but that was a bit different, she wasn't the lead of either The Help or The Debt. Though one wouldn't say that she's the draw of either Mama or ZD30, she's none the less the lead actor.
It can only help her in terms of more commercial projects with good directors plus being a b/off name always helps plus she can stay in the best actress conversation which is edging toward lawrence and riva.
Whaaaa? No Strings Attached was great!
I have fallen in love with Jessica Chastain this year. An educated, articulate, divinely gifted actress who values being believable as different characters over being a celebrity. She's a breath of fresh air, and her name alone is enough to get me interested in a film.
I wouldn't be so quick to assume ZD30 wouldn't have made a lot of money without the controversy. Keep in mind there have been like 3 national best sellers about the Bin Laden assassination and it's kind of a national moment of pride. People were going to go to that movie.
She is definitely having one of those moments actors mut dream about. Oscar nomination, hit Broadway play, two movies in the #1 and #2 position at the box office...it doesn't suck to be Jessica Chastain right now.
I loved Chastain in Mama but wasn't so hot on the film. I think it's a dark fantasy story that got pushed into horror when it shouldn't have been. At its best moments, it's like a companion piece to Corpse Bride. At its worst, it's a really bad January horror film.